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TO BE SEEN IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
The
ability to see where you're driving is one of the most important factors in
driver safety. But are you doing everything you can to be seen by other drivers?
One of
the threats to clear vision that might face any driver is high humidity that
will cause condensation of fog on inside glass surfaces. You should be alert for
this situation, which is hardly perceptible as it starts but soon builds up to
block your vision.
At the
first sign of condensation on the inner surface of the windshield, turn on the
defroster and open a side window slightly. The air conditioner should be turned
on, regardless of temperature, to dry out the atmosphere. In extreme conditions
wipe the inside glass surfaces.
Outside
fog, the natural variety that often obscures all vision along highways, can be
really dangerous and calls for the utmost caution. The first light patch of fog
you encounter can be a fortuitous warning which tells you to slow down, because
it lets you know that fog conditions exist.
You
never know when light fog can suddenly turn into dense fog, the "pea
soup" kind, that blinds every driver on the road and often results in
multiple crashes and long pile-ups caused by inattentive drivers.
Good
driver slow down when clear vision is obscured by fog. Even in daylight turn on
low beam headlights, mainly to help other drivers know you're there. High beam
is not used, because the particles of moisture in the fog act like a
reflectorized sign, reflecting the more intense light, with its higher
reflectance angle, right back into the driver's eyes.
If the
fog becomes dense, the cautious driver slows to a crawl, or pulls onto the
shoulder as far off the road as possible and stops altogether—turning on the
flashing warning lights to warn other drivers.
Many
drivers seem to need reminders about the deceptive illumination at dusk. At this
period, daylight is fading, yet it may not seem dark enough for headlights.
After driving for some time in normal daylight, hazards along the way are no
longer clearly defined by the twilight.
This is
the time to turn on headlights—low beam—to help you to see clearly and to
help oncoming drivers see you. They may also be fooled by the twilight, and they
need to know that you're there.
When
you drive east at sunrise, or west at sunset, you have another visibility
problem. The sun's glare is right in your eyes, and you must take special
precautions. At such times, you should use sun visors and sunglasses, and slow
down until you're in command of the situation. But if the sun is at your back,
remember that oncoming drivers have the sun in their eyes and may not readily
see you.
Headlights
should be turned on whenever weather reduces visibility. These, will make your
vehicle more visible to other drivers.
If the
change in weather means rain, snow or sleet, you have other aids to visibility
in your windshield washers and wipers. Some drivers seem loath to turn on their
wipers for the first few drops of rain because the mixture of dust and moisture
will mean a smeared windshield. That's when washers prove their worth. A few
squirts of the washer fluid will clear the smear so the wipers can take care of
rain.
Drops
of rain on windows may distort what you see through your rearview mirrors, so
check more carefully than usual when this happens. If you're not certain you are
seeing clearly as you pull into another lane or prepare for to turn, you should
open your window enough to get a clear view.
This is
especially important at intersections, where you must make sure about traffic
coming from both directions. Take a second look...and a third look. Don't depend
on fast acceleration to get you out of the path of a vehicle you didn't see soon
enough. Your tires may spin on the wet road surface.
Safety Recommendations:__________________________________________________________________________________
Job Specific Topics:_______________________________________________________________________________________
M.S.D.S Reviewed:_______________________________________________________________________________________
Attended By:
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